Gramma's Pasta Salad

Bursting with fresh veggies, tangy Italian dressing, and creamy cheeses, Gramma’s Pasta Salad is a timeless family favorite that’s perfect for summer picnics, potlucks, or weekday meals. This colorful rotini pasta salad combines crisp cucumber, sweet cherry tomatoes, crunchy bell pepper, and savory red onion with sliced black olives and hearty cubes of cheddar cheese. Tossed in a zesty Italian dressing and topped with grated parmesan and fresh parsley, every bite is packed with bold flavors and rich textures. Ready in just 30 minutes, this easy-to-make salad is served chilled for maximum refreshment and can be prepared ahead of time to let the vibrant ingredients meld. Whether as a side dish or a light main course, Gramma’s Pasta Salad is sure to transport you back to the comfort of cherished family gatherings.

Nutriscore Rating: 63/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:10 mins

Total Time:30 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 pound rotini pasta
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes
• 1 large cucumber
• 1 red bell pepper
• 0.5 red onion
• 1 cup black olives (sliced)
• 1 cup cheddar cheese (cubed)
• 1 cup Italian dressing
• 0.5 cup parmesan cheese (grated)
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rotini pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 8-10 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to cool completely, then transfer to a large mixing bowl.

Step 2

While the pasta cooks, prepare the vegetables. Halve the cherry tomatoes, dice the cucumber, chop the red bell pepper, and finely slice the red onion. Add these to the bowl with the cooled pasta.

Step 3

Mix in the sliced black olives and cubed cheddar cheese, stirring gently to combine.

Step 4

Pour the Italian dressing over the pasta and vegetables, then sprinkle in the grated parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, salt, and black pepper. Toss until everything is evenly coated.

Step 5

Taste the salad and adjust the seasonings if necessary. Add more dressing if desired for extra flavor.

Step 6

Cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 7

Serve chilled as a side dish or a refreshing main course. Enjoy Gramma's Pasta Salad while reminiscing about those cherished family gatherings!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2194.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4317.8

Total Fat 209.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 87.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 25.3g
Cholesterol 351.6mg	0%
Sodium 9887.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 444.8g	0%
Dietary Fiber 34.2g	0%
Total Sugars 64.9g
Protein 174.4g	0%

Vitamin D 51.3IU	0%
Calcium 3518.0mg	0%
Iron 25.4mg	0%
Potassium 3548.9mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 43.2%

Protein: 16.0%

Carbs: 40.8%